We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

Canadian officials are also interpreting the results to mean an increase in Islamophobia. “There is an epidemic of Islamophobia in Ontario. Only a third of Ontarians have a positive impression of the religion and more than half feel its mainstream doctrines promote violence (an anomaly compared to other religions),” the survey said.

How George Soros Singlehandedly Created The European Refugee Crisis - And Why

Heather MacDonald “War on Cops”
I heard her interviewed on the Howie Carr show (Boston talk radio), and I was taken aback by the statistics; statistics that BHO and the media igonore, BTW.
I know many are going to say that the facts don’t matter in the face of overwhelming demagoguery, however, we all need to have her statistics at our fingertips and share them whenever the opportunity presents, ie AAs are responsible for 40% of all police killings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Fr-xKukco

Came across a Facebook post:
“I’m not condoning the killing of cops, but it makes me really angry and sad that when cops are killed it's called a national tragedy and they are the heroes. We're supposed to thank them and offer our gratitude and condolences. We’re told they have families, friends, and coworkers. But when cops brutally beat and murder black men they blame the victim, report on their criminal records, and smear their character,” ........

Oh noes,.......... not the facts.
Who doesn’t know the media very often gets the initial story wrong, and that this is the story that persists in the public’s minds. This is what people who want solutions are up against.

I guess it's okay, then, for the cops to be discouraged. Lynch should be made to don a police uniform and walk the streets of a major American city. Perhaps she'd manage to summon more compassion for the police.

Once again, I'd like to thank every one of my fellow countrymen who voted for Obama twice. Thanks shltheads, he's destroyed the county.

Loretta Lynch: "And to those who seek to improve our country through peaceful protest and protected speech, I want you to know that your voice is important. Do not be discouraged by those who would use your lawful actions as a cover for their heinous violence. We will continue to safeguard your constitutional rights and to work with you in the difficult mission of building a better nation and a brighter future."

ahme: I guess it's okay, then, for the cops to be discouraged.

Loretta Lynch: “To our brothers and sisters who wear the badge, I want you to know that I am deeply grateful that the difficult and dangerous work you do every day to keep our streets safe and our nation secure,” Lynch said. “Our hearts are broken by this loss, and the Department of Justice will do all that we can to support you in the days ahead.”

The BLM is the new KKK. What in the hell is the head of the DOJ doing giving props to this racist terrorist group? Have you seen their posts? Their pictures of beheading cops and their calls for more police deaths? Are you just stupid?

So not "just stupid" but willfully stupid. Clearly you blind yourself to the things BLM has said and done. They are a racist group and advocate killing whites and white policemen. But if you carefully screen out anything they have said, done or written that implicates them in terrorism and murder you can make believe they are not the neo-KKK. The sheets are off and most Americans see them for what they are. I would predict that they will amp it up with marching orders from Obama and Lynch to spread racial hatred.

You are excusing dangerous and illegal acts with legal protest and those dangerous and illegal acts lead to serious crimes and shooting cops. Every person on that freeway should have been arrested and tried in a court, convicted and sent to jail for a minimum of 30 days. Every time a so-called activist/demonstrator breaks the law they should be treated "equally" under the law and do some time.

Fiat Nox: You are excusing dangerous and illegal acts with legal protest and those dangerous and illegal acts lead to serious crimes and shooting cops.

Peaceful protest is not responsible for the assassination of police officers. The common thread is that the nationwide protests and the killings in Dallas were sparked by the deaths in Minnesota and Louisiana. Peaceful protest is the proper and constitutionally protected response. Most police now recognize this, and that's why they use restraint, even when taunted by the unruly protesters.

In the 60’s the Russians used the KGB and American hate groups like the SDS and Weather Underground to foment violence. A lot of this violence was on college campuses and in the black community. What we are seeing today with BLM (and other groups related to ACORN and occupy) are the same things, funded by the Marxist/communist organizations and a few billionaires. Our leader is an acolyte of this movement BFF with Bill Ayers and student of Saul Alinsky. He can spout his platitudes on TV and visit the crime scenes in between golf games but he cannot hide his complicity. Obama and the Democrats caused this, they fund and direct these hate groups. These hate groups with their lies and propaganda created the environment for small time thugs to grab a gun and shoot a cop or slash a white women or throw gasoline on people and set them on fire. Obama and the Democrats have kept the pot boiling for their own agenda and when the pot boils over it is their fault. They own this, they caused this and they are not repentant and fully intend to turn up the heat until after the election. This could get very bad very quickly.

The shooting in Mn was justified. The perp was a suspect in an armed robbery and when the police came to the car the perp had his gun visible on his lap. The cop ordered the perp to keep his hands away from the gun but the perp either out intent to use the gun or stupidity kept fidgeting with the gun and the cop shot him. Wouldn't you? The passenger/girl friend lied her ass of on her video and THAT is the narrative that BLM choose to believe.

In Baton Rouge the perp was a career criminal with a rap sheet longer then "War and Peace" and was a felon with a firearm. When the police confronted him he fought them (why?? Is this stupidty, thug culture, black culture, what? Why fight the police especially if you have a gun?) and kept trying to reach his gun. The moral here is when the police tell you to stop reaching for the gun or they will shoot that MAYBE they mean it.

Just like in Ferguson and the "little Travon" case the narrative was a lie and the thug got what they deserved.

Just heard that three black men were shot in Baltimore a few hours ago. Will BLM show up and shoot some cops????

Usually you prevaricate when you are wrong or ignorant/uninformed. You screwed up this time. That meme is indeed the one that Diamond put out there and the left embraced but it is a lie (like so much regarding BLM). The perp was stopped because he fit the description of an armed robber in that area. He did not have a CC and he DID have a gun on his lap. (Now who amongst us places a gun on our lap when the police stop us?) AND most importantly he wouldn't keep his hands up when ordered to do it and reached for the gun.

Two days ago two black men and a black 10 year old were shot in San Bernardino. Still waiting for BLM to show up.

If it turns out that the perp was not the same person that committed the armed robbery and did have a legal right to carry concealed I will apologize (not to you but to him). However you still have to ask why any sane person would carry their gun on their lap when a policeman pulls you over? AND why would any sane person with a gun on his lap and a policeman walks up to the drivers window reach for the gun??? I would have both my hands on the steering wheel, wouldn't you?

GoneWithTheWind: However you still have to ask why any sane person would carry their gun on their lap when a policeman pulls you over? AND why would any sane person with a gun on his lap and a policeman walks up to the drivers window reach for the gun???

Which is why your version of events makes no sense. The victim (not a perp) was going about his business legally.

Are you arguing that the police cannot stop a person who fits the description of a law breaker to talk to them? If the perp (with a long record) did nothing wrong and was not the robber he would be home by now. If his girlfriend (who has also committed crimes) told the perp to not be stupid and go for his gun they would both be home now. I repeat: How stupid do you have to be to have a gun on your lap when stopped by the police and than keep moving your hand towards the gun when told to put your hands up??? What happened here is the perp knew he was gonna get arrested for his crimes and toyed with the idea that he could shoot the cop and run and maybe get away. Luckily the cop was smarter than the perp and defended himself.

Not at all. We tend to be very conservative that way. Revolution should be a last resort, as once the foundations of society are shaken, irreplaceable traditions and mores may be undermined. The U.S. is a nation of laws, with strong institutions. It has been repeatedly shown to be amenable to reform through the democratic process. Hence, the proper response to injustice is free speech, free association, and petition of government for a redress of grievances.

A “Black Lives Matter” march against police brutality in Oakland turned ugly, with protesters reportedly attacking a journalist, smashing shopfront windows, throwing bottles, and defacing the main Christmas tree in the heart of the city. . . . .

Sorry, not buying the liberal Kool-Aid about these people. They are leftist racist thugs being coordinated from the Obama White House, which is frightening and makes them even more dangerous. They need to be classified as a terrorist group.

Jim: They are leftist racist thugs being coordinated from the Obama White House, which is frightening and makes them even more dangerous. They need to be classified as a terrorist group.

Beyoncé: “Rest in peace to the officers whose lives were senselessly taken yesterday in Dallas. I am praying for a full recovery of the seven others injured. No violence will create peace. Every human life is valuable. We must be the solution. Every human being has the right to gather in peaceful protest without suffering more unnecessary violence. To effect change we must show love in the face of hate and peace in the face of violence.”

Beyoncé, July 7, 2016: "We must use our voices to contact the politicians and legislators in our districts and demand social and judicial changes... To contact your Congressman or woman click here."http://www.beyonce.com/freedom/

The leader of the chant claimed it wasn't meant to incite violence, but the nature of such speech dehumanizes police, and is rightly condemned.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/blacklivesmatter-leader-pigs-in-a-blanket-chant-was-just-playful/

Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that "The BLM is the new KKK," or a "terrorist group".

“These officers were there to protect the protesters and make sure their expression of discontent and freedom of speech were protected,” added Gilstrap, who has long advocated for police reform. “They were taking selfies [with the protesters.] There was nothing wrong with the protest.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/black-police-officers-dallas_us_577ff1e7e4b01edea78dd1a9?section=

re China Will Never Respect the U.S. Over the South China Sea. Here’s Why

QUOTE:

A great power refuses to play by international rules, declining to ratify a major U.N. convention to which more than 160 other countries are party. After years of complaints, the nation convinces the U.N. to tweak the treaty to many of its specifications. Yet even after those amendments, the great power’s legislature prioritizes protectionist sentiment over respect for global rule of law.

More blame America first tripe from Lefty fantasy land.

China plays by China's rules, and agreements on parchment are not going to stop them from acting in what they perceive to be their interests.

Essentially the article criticizes Trump for criticizing Jeff Flake. Why? Because the Flake wants to put illegal aliens ahead of citizens. After all we can't stop illegal immigration and once here they will vote so Flake wants to pander for their vote. I think I'm on Trump's side on this. It would seem to me that Flake and the rest of the Rinos pandering for the illegal votes are the ones who should be criticized.

There is considerable agreement that if we still had the farming technology of the 50's and 60's that we could nnot feed the 7 billion plus people alive today. China, India and much of the world depends on the green revolution to feed their people. A big part of that green revolution is GMO. Crop yields doubled and quadrupled thanks to this technology. So the luddites come out of their Rip Van Winkle sleep and protest against it.

So you cite an organic farming site as "proof" that GMO doesn't dramatically increase crop yields. They of course don't have any bias or reason to fudge the data, right? The data is out there, keep looking. Not only does GMO dramatically increase crop yields but it also decreases pesticide use.

SweetPea: So you cite an organic farming site as "proof" that GMO doesn't dramatically increase crop yields.

The graph was posted on an organic farming site, but the graph is actually from a published scientific study, Heinemann et al., Sustainability and innovation in staple crop production in the US Midwest, International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 2014. Are you saying the graph is in error? Or are you just handwaving?

The article states that "yield benefits (or limitations) over time are due to breeding and not GM", which is probably true.

Seed companies for the last ~20 yrs. have developed maize varieties for the western US Corn Belt. If you don't grow maize there, then the hybrid varieties are not well-adpated to your region. This is a downside to consolidation in the seed industry and lack of support for plant breeding at land-grant institutions in the US.

The article is sloppy in taking avg US maize yields to compare to "western" Europe. For example, most IA counties exceeded 160 bu/acre (the most recent US avg yield) for 10-yr avgs (https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/pdf/a1-14.pdf). The 160 bu/acre avg results from including maize yields outside the corn belt proper, and this brings down the average yield for the US.

A very long read and very complex. One line from this is: "In the 1960s, rice yields in India were about two tons per hectare; by the mid-1990s, they had risen to six tons per hectare."

There are a lot of examples of dramatic increase in crop production as a result of numerous break throughs, not just GMO. The problem, which Zach exemplifies is if you are carefully selective in the stats you choose to hi-light you can find failures or less than stellar successes to prove any point you want to. So who are you gonna believe: Zach or your lying eyes?

Over 1 million people a year in 3rd world nations go blind every year due to vitamin A deficiency. The GMO rice was created (golden rice) to prevent this problem. Thank you for pointing out that huge accomplishment thanks to GMO.

The rice yields I mentioned was the result of the entire effort to modify food crops and it was a huge success. It used GMO techniques. You can choose to parse what is or what is not GMO to make your point. But the fact remains that those techniques allowed a three fold increase in rice production while you quibble about is the increase really as high as doubling the production.

You may be unhappy with all this but they are overjoyed in India, the PI and the rest of Asia.

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